Baffle construction



Oct. 25, 1938.

G. RAYMOND ET AL BAFFLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet2 ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1938.

G. RAYMOND ET AL BAFFL'E' CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV;NTOR5ATTOR'NE-Y Filed April 25, 1936 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATESBAFFLE ooNsrrR omon V Gwynne Raymond and Lee E. Young, Oklahoma City,Okla, assignors to Black, 'Sivalls -&.Bryson, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla;.a corporation of Maine Application April 25, 1936, iSferial No. 76,48411 Claims. (01.210-47.)

and cannot be treated in metallic vessels or vessels containing metallicparts. Such fluids may be successfully treated in wooden tanks but whenbaflles are necessary for retarding flow of fluid under treatment, theyofier many constructional difficulties.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a tank of this character with a simple and rigidly constructedbaf- 1% fie unit not afiected by the disintegrating action of the fluidunder treatment.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a baffle unitthat is readily assembled and retained in assembled condition withoutthe use of nails, bolts or other metal parts; to provide for expansionof parts of the respective baffle elements composing the unit; and toprovide each bafile element with a distributor whereby fluid undertreatment is distributed uniformly across the width thereof. 7

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved details of structure,the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accomf panyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspectivev sectional 'view through a fluid treating tankequipped with a baflie unit embodying the features of our invention,por:-.

tions of selected baflling elements being broken away to betterillustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a pair of adjacent baflie elementsparticularly illustrating support thereof by the shoring posts andmounting of the top boards within the side boards of the respectivebaffle elements.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the tank and baflle unit.

Fig. 4 is a detail section through a portion of the bafile unit on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3, particularly illustrating the expansion joint topermit expansion of the top or cross boards of the,

respective baflies.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustratingconnection of the end boards with the side boards of adjacent bafileelements.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the center posts.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the side posts.

Fig. 8 'is a detail perspective view of one of th side boards of a'bafiie element. 7

Fig. "9"is a perspective view of one of the distributor bars. Fig. 10 isajperspectiveyiew of one of the top boards of a -ba'iiie element. r Fig.llis a perspective view of one of the cross 5 tie bars.

.Fig. '12 is'a' perspective view of one of the end boards of a baffleelement.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a vessel, such as a tank, having 10 a cylindrical side wall2 preferably formed of wooden 'staves and having their'upper and lowerends rabbeted as at 3 and .4, to accommodate the peripheral edges ofupper and lower heads ,or decks} and 6, the upper head being supportedby suitable shoring posts '1 having their lower ends supported uponfooting boards 8 and their upper ends carrying stringers "9 that engageunder and support the upper head '5. The posts! are ti'ed at their upperand lower ends to the heads of fastening devices, such as bolts. I0,that are shielded within the members connected by th'eni"'from contactwith fluids'contain'ed in the tank. Cooperating with the stringers 9 areouter stringers H to clamp the boards composing the upper head 5therebetween.

Except. for the arrangement of the posts to accommodate the battle unit,as hereinafter described, the'specific construction of the tank formsnofipart of the present invention and may be oi'any,approved'construction wherein metal parts are shielded from thecorrosive action of the fluid contained inthe tank.

In order to accommodate the baflle unit, the

posts 1 are preferably arranged in parallel rows,

which, in the illustrated instance, are three in number with-the centerrow arranged diametrically of the tank and comprising three posts [2, l3and 14. The outer rows are spaced therefromand each consists of twoposts *I5--l-6 and 40 I-Tl 8 respectively, arranged in staggeredrelationwith the-posts i2, '13 "and M of the center row.

Supported by theposts is a bafile unit 19 comprising-two parallel seriesof superimposed baffle elements, the respective baflle elements in eachseries being arranged sideby side atthe-respective sides er the centerrow of posts and designated 20 to 21 respectively. Each baflie elementcomprises an'inverted pan-or tray-like member pref- 5 erably formed ofwood, such as cypress, cedar, white pine, redwood, or other material notsubject to disintegrating influence of fluids to be treated in the tank-Thepairs of baffle elements are'therefore-constructed of dimensionlumber'and conform to the positions to be occupied by the.

respective baffle elements. The notches in the posts in the respectiverows are arranged at different elevations and angles so that the sideboards of alternate baflies slope upwardly in-one direction and the sideboards of the intermediate bafiles slope upwardly in the oppositedirection,

at such angles that alternate ends of the-sideboards of one elementcontact the corresponding ends of side boards of adjacentbafllelelements inedge to edge relation asclearly illustrated in Fig.2 V

Formed in the facing sides, of the side boards 28 30 'and29-'3|, atpointsadjac-ent their upper edges, are rabbet grooves 35--3'|,and36'-38. The rabbet grooves extend longitudinally in parallel relationwith the upper edges of the side boards but terminate short, of theirupper ends to provide stops 39. The opposite ends of the rabbet groovesterminate in recesses 46 opening from the lower end of the side boardsto provide seating faces 4| offset below theseating faces 42 of therabbet grooves.

43 designates a plurality of top boards arranged in edge to edgeengagement and having their ends and 45 mountedin the rabbet grooves of4! so that when the boards are placed in'juxtaposition thejointstherebetween are broken and the respective pairs of side boardsand having bearing engagementon the seat portions 42 thereof. i Theengaging edges of the boards 43 are grooved, as at 46, to provideinterlappi'ng tongues the faces of the boards lie flush with eachother.There is a sufficient numberof boards 43 to cover the seating portions42 of the' grooves andv to extend into the recesses 40 but theyterminate short of the ends of the side boards toforrn ex-' pansionspaces 49, as shown in Fig. 4.

Cooperating with the lowermost board 50, and

having their en'ds supported on; the seating portions 4! of therecesses, are sealing boards5l having their'forward edgesf52 underlyingthev boards 50 and the rear portions 53 closing the expansion joints 49.The boards'43 are thus free ward the expansion spaces 49. I

Inserted between selective bottom boards at the lower ends of therespective baiiles are distributors 54 having grooves 55 and rabbets 56to expand from the direction of the stops 39 toextendng along theirrespeotive edg es to acc0mmodate the tongues on the adjacent boards 43.The distributors areof greater. thickness than the bottom boards toprovide depending portions 5.1having a series of transverse notches 58in their lower: edges,v as clearly shownin Figs. 4 and9. The endsofetheldistributors are provided with tongues 59 for engaging in thegrooves of the side boards to support the distributors in theirrespective positions;

Extending across the ends of the baflie elements in overlapping relationwith the contacting ends of the side boards are end boards 60, which areillustrated in detail in Fig... 12. The boards 60 are of sufiicientlength. to extend across bothseries Web-e 11? s em ntsa v tr nsv e. ro

6l-62 and 63-64 for'accommodating the ends of the side boards, and havelongitudinal grooves 65 for accommodating the lower edges 53 of the sealboards as shown in Figs. 4 and 12. The end boards are retained inposition by means of dowel pins 66 and 61 which are inserted throughaligning bores 68 and 69 extending at angles through the end boards andends of the side boards, as shown in Fig. 5. The end boards thuscooperate With the boards 43 to form outlet openings 10 for flow ofliquid under treatment from one baflle element to the next upper bafileelement as shown in Fig. 4.

Extending between selected baflie elements and I6-fl8,'are tie bars Hhaving notches 12 and 13 in the ends thereof for engaging over therespective posts to prevent spreading of the baffle elements when inassembled condition. The tie bars are connected with the respectiveposts by dowels 14 extending therethrough and, into the posts as shownin'Fig. 3. The tie bars are also secured to selected side boards bydowels 15 that extend vertically therethrough and into the edges of theside bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Extending through the wall of thetank at a point midway of the Width of the lower bafile elements, and ata level below the ends thereof, is an inlet pipe 16 to which isconnected a transversely arranged distributor pipe 11 having branchedends I8 and 19 terminating midway between the pairs of side boards ofeach series and provided with elbows. and 8| through which fluidadmitted to the tank is discharged under the lower baflie elements. anoverflow outlet pipe for discharge of oil from the upper part of thetank, and a water outlet 83 communicating with a lower portion of thetank'for discharging the surplus water. The tank may also be providedwith other fittings as in conventional tank practice, such as clean-outmanholes 84, gage-holes, and the like.

A tank equipped with abaffle element con-. structed as described, isassembled as follows:

When the tank bottom 6 has been laid, the

footing boards 8 are placed in the proper positionjand the shoring posts1 are set thereon. The stringers 9 are then supported on the ends of therespective posts' shown in' Fig. 1, after which the head 5 is laidacross the stringers and top stringers I I are put in place,the postsbeing temporarilysupported to retain them in vertical position. The'side bars 28'-29 and 303l of the lower bafil'e elements of both seriesare then positioned in the lowermost notches of v the posts so that theends thereof are in alignment. The boards 43,'toge'the'r with thedistributor bar 54, are slid Since the into the grooves of the sideboards. grooves stop short of the upper ends of the side boards they maybe shoved home against the stop 39' without measuring, the distributingbar being mated between selected boards 43 a short distance'from thelower ends of the side boards.

bled in like manner, and when all of them are in place, the cross tiebars H are inserted between selected baflie elements to rest upon theupper edges of the side boards, with the notches The tank'is alsoprovided with' 12 and 13 thereof engaging the outer posts to preventlateral spreading ofthe posts. The tie bars are then secured to theposts and to the underlying side boards by the dowels l4 and 15.

The end boards are then placed in position and secured by the dowels 66and 61 that are driven intothe angular bores 68 and 69. .The shoringposts are then secured to the upper .deck, as in conventional practice,after which the .staves forming the side wall may be applied and securedby the usual hoops or bands (not shown). 'The various fittings,includingthe inlet pipe 16 and the outlet connection 83 are then applied .to'thetank, together with the fittings including the manholes 84, to completethe installation.

When the fluid to be treated is admitted to the tank from the pipe .16,it is distributed through the elbows 80 and 8|..under the lower baiileelements of both series so thatthe fluid rises upwardly in two streamsand moves under the boards 43 in the channels formed between therespective pairs of side boards toward the outlet openings 10. The fluidstreams, upon being engaged by the distributor bar atthe lower end ofthe baffle elements, are distributed by means of the notches uniformlyacross the widths thereof so. that they continue their flow upwardlyunder the bafiles in substantially thin films and through the liquidcontained in the tank. Upon flowing through the opening 10,,the

- liquid rises upwardly to engage the seal boards of the next higherbaffles and continues upwardly thereunder, passing across the next upperdistributing bars 54 and flows toward the opening It to the next upperbaffle elements, and soon until the sheets of fluid have passed underall the baffie elements of the respective series. The fluid thus movesin zigzag, tortuous paths over an extended area at a relatively slowrate of travel to eflect separation of certaincomponents thereof.

For example, in the case of simple oil and water emulsions, the waterseparates from the oil and remains in the lower portion of the tank asthe oil gradually rises under the bafiles to collect in the top of thetank from where the oil is drained on through the overflow pipe, as inconventional practice, while the surplus water is drawn off throughthepipe 83.

In more complex emulsions, the tank may contain a suitable chemicalthrough which the emulsified liquid is caused to move in tortuous pathsincidental to the baffle elements to break the emulsion, and if requiredthe treating liquid may be heated by suitable steam coils or the like,that may be carried in the bottom of the tank as in standard practice.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that we have provided a simple bafiiearrangement that is adapted for the treatment of corrosive fluids orfluids having disintegrating effects on metal, and that the baflleelements may be readily constructed and assembled in a rigid unitwithout use of metal parts. The seal boards also provide suitableexpansion joints to allow for expansion .of the bottom boards so thatthey remain in flat condition and do not tend to push the end boardsfrom their connections with the side boards.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, an inverted tray-shapedbaffle including end and side members, cross members arranged in edge toedge contact and spaced from the end members to form a flow outlet atone end and an expansion space at the oppositeend of the baffle', -meansfor. movably supporting the ends of the cross-members on the sidemembers, a sealing member closing the expansion space and having slidingcontact with the adjacent cross member, a distributor member supportedby the side members nearest the end of the bafiie having the sealingmember, and means for delivering a fluid for flow under the baffletoward said flow outlet. V e

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an inverted tray-shapedba-file including end and side members, cross members arranged in edgeto. edge contact and spaced from the endmembers to form a. flow :outletat one end and an expansion space at the opposite end of the baffie,means movably supporting the ends of the cross members on the sidemembersfor expansive movement in. the direction of said expansion space,a sealing member :closing the. expansion space to compensate forexpansion and contraction of the cross members, and means for do?livering a fluid for flow under :the bafiie at the end "opposite saidflow outlet.

' members'having facing grooves extending longitudinally of the sidemembers but terminating short of one of their ends and havingofisetseating portions at their opposite ends, end members connectedwith ends of the side members, cross members arranged in edge to edgecontact and having their ends slidably supported in; said grooves andspaced from the end members. to form an expansion space over :saidoflset seating portionand an outlet opening at the other end of thebaffle, a sealing member having its rend-s supported on said offsetseating portions for'closing the expansion space and having slidingcontact with a cross member adjacent said expansion space, and meansfordelivering a fluid ior flow .under'the bafile, toward said outlet.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, spaced rows of verticalposts having vertically spaced notches in .their facingsides,.superimposed bafile members including spaced pairs of alternatelyinclinedside members mounted 'in the respective notches of the.posts-and arranged with their opposite ends inedge to. edge. contactwith the ends of the next upper and lower side members respectively, endmembers connecting the contacting ends of the'side members, crossmembers arranged in edge to edge contact and having their ends slidablysupported by the side members and spaced from the end members, sealingmembers closing the spaces at the lower ends of the side members, tiebars extending between selective side members and engaging the,

posts to retain said members in assembled position and means fordelivering a liquid under the lowermost baffle member for upward flowunder ranged in edge to edge contactland having their ends slidablysupported by the side members :and spaced from the .end members, sealingmembers closing the spaces at the lower ends of the side members, tiebars extending between selective side members and having notchesengaging the posts to retain said members in assembled position and forenhancing rigidity'of the posts, and means for admitting a liquid to thetank under the lowermost baflie" member forupward flow under therespective baffle members toward the top of the tank.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, spaced rows of verticalposts having vertically spaced notches in their facing sides,superimposed baffles including pairs of alternately inclined sidemembers mounted in the respective notches of the posts, end membersconnecting the upper and lower ends of adjacent side members, crossmembers arranged in edge to edge contact and having their ends slidablysupported by the side members and spaced from the end members, sealingmembers closing the spaces at the lower ends of the side members, tiebars extending between selective side members and engaging the posts toretain said members in assembled position, distributor bars retainedbetween selected cross members nearest the lower ends of the sidemembers, and means for delivering a fluid under the lowermost bafiie forflow under the respective baflles. V

7. In an apparatus of the character described, spaced rows of verticalposts having vertically spaced notches in their facing sides,alternately inclined side members mounted in the respective notches ofthe posts and arranged with their upper ends in edge to edge contactwith the lower end of the next upper side members, end membersconnecting the contacting ends of the side members, cross membersarranged in edge to edge contact and having their ends supported by theside members and spaced from the end members at the upper ends of theside members to form outlet openings, tie bars extending betweenselective side members and engaging the posts to retain said members inassembled position, and means for delivering a fluid under the lowermostcross members for upward flow under said other cross members.

8. In an apparatus of the character described,

an inverted tray-shaped baffle including side and end members, crossmembers arranged in edge to edge contact and spaced from one of the endmembers to form a flow outlet at that end of the baflie, means movablysupporting the ends of the cross members to accommodate shrinking andswelling thereof incidental to contact of fluid with thebaffle, meansfor delivering a fluid for flow under thebaflle towardsaid outlet, andan expansion joint member cooperating with the cross members tocompletely close the baflie with the exception of said flow outletwhereby the fluid is caused to fiow the entire length of said baflie.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, spaced rows of posts,alternately inclined traylike bafiles invertedly supported between therows of posts, tie bars extending between selected baffies and havingnotches to form hook-like ends engaged over the sides of the posts toretain the baffles in supported engagement with the posts, and means fordelivering a fluid for flow under said baflies.

10. In combination with a tank, spaced rows of posts having verticallyspaced ledge-like seating portions in the facing sides of said posts, apluralityof alternately inclined baffles having sides supported in saidseating portions and having flow outlets at their upper ends, tie barsextending between selected bafiles and having hooklike ends engagingover outer faces of the posts to retain the sides of the baflies in saidseating portions of the posts, and. means for delivering fluid forprogressive flow under the respective bafiles.

11. In combination with a tank having a roof and floor decks, spacedrows of posts carried upon the floor deck for supporting the roof deckand having vertically spaced notches in their facing sides, a pluralityof alternately inclined baflles having sides supported in said notchesand having flow outlets at their upper ends, tie bars extending betweenselected baflies and having notches forming hook-like ends forengagement with the posts to support said posts and to retain thebaflies in the notches, and means for delivering a fluid' forprogressive flow under the respective baflies.

GWYNNE RAYMOND. LEE E. YOUNG.

